1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

71 Wheeling Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jan 18, 2021.

  1. May 5, 2022
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,457
    I think those just got down graded to 5.07:1. jpet stripped several teeth off the earlier sliding gear from the 2.43:1 gear set. He is re-engineering it to use the stronger sliding gear from the 2.46:1 gear set. I should know how well they work before the summer is out. Jeff is also likely going to be marketing a steel D18 gridle.
     
    Fireball and Jw60 like this.
  2. May 5, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
    Messages:
    1,382
    I have switched to Ace Hardware brand paint. Dries super fast, lasts to the end of the can, and is every bit as good. Cheaper too.
     
  3. May 5, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    Yeah, I really like the Ace stuff too. It's just further to get to an Ace from where we live. I'm not sure I'll buy any more Rustoleum after I work through the current batch of satin black.
     
  4. May 5, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    I like the street friendliness of the current setup. Some Tera Lows would get me to 75:1 with the current axles. If I dropped down to 4.27s with Tera Lows I would be at 85:1 and still have somewhat streetable gears. I'm curious how the current gears will be in practice. One advantage I have is a 55% bigger motor than a 225 and probably more than 55% more torque at low RPM due to a longer stroke.

    I'm curious why you would like lower gears than the 93:1. I'm assuming it's not a torque concern. Is it just to allow lower speed in high grip situations so you have more time to react to things and place the Jeep?

    I will probably have this thing to Moab at least once, but most of my wheeling will be in PNW single track through the woods. ...and Sunday drives around the area.
     
    ITLKSEZ, 3b a runnin and Ol Fogie like this.
  5. May 6, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
    Messages:
    1,382
    I can't speak for cj2atruck, but I have the exact same setup as him and was happy with the reduction for big rocks like the Rubicon. But once I went to bigger tires, it effectively raised me to 4.88's, and I am now looking to go lower. Plus the rocks are getting bigger. So I am thinking about the 3.15 tera gears for my next go-round. Just a little more control and rpm in the rocks. Sometimes I want an overdrive so I can go 1st over in easier sections, but then realize I should just enjoy the scenery.
     
  6. May 6, 2022
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,457
    Like I noted earlier, try it in some realitivley gnarly stuff as is. My bet is that it will work just fine. The 350 should still have some very usable torque available at 300 rpm-prossibly as much as a 225 can muster at peak torque.
     
    Fireball, timsresort and Ol Fogie like this.
  7. May 6, 2022
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    I remember an old quote, “The only reason we need a transmission is because nobody has invented the perfect engine.”
    That 350 is pretty close. That thing does rolling stops at stop signs in top gear.
     
    Fireball, Ol Fogie and timsresort like this.
  8. May 10, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    The fan belts were getting pretty low in the pulleys so I wanted to swap them out before Jeeping season.

    While I was at it, I fixed and annoyance the Jeep has had since I bought it. The power steering bracket used to also have a smog pump attached. A previous owner hacked of the tabs for the pump but left this big ugly metal tower in place:
    [​IMG]

    It originally looked some thing link this:
    [​IMG]

    So I popped it out and cut the top off:
    [​IMG]

    Ground it so it looked decent and touched up the paint:
    [​IMG]

    Still far from beautiful, but better in my eyes:
    [​IMG]

    New belts on. The old ones are in the trail spares kit:
    [​IMG]
     
    cj2atruck, Twin2, Ol Fogie and 10 others like this.
  9. May 11, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    There are some rumors of a local Jeep trip on memorial day weekend and my tank is near empty so it's time to investigate the leak at the gas tank.

    First off with the skid plat. This one is in pretty good shape with only two minor dents:
    [​IMG]

    The filler hoses detached with no issues after some cleaning to keep dirt out of the tank:
    [​IMG]

    Tilt the front down, move it forward, lower it a bit, disconnect wires/hoses, then drop the left side down to pull the filler neck over the frame:
    [​IMG]

    It's out:
    [​IMG]

    The problem was immediately obvious. Watch the large fitting:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The solder joint has come loose and the pipe is moves freely in the mounting plate.

    I used a brush, vacuum, and air gun to clean the dirt off so I didn't get any in the tank.

    A secondary issue was the pickup sock filter rolling around in the bottom of the tank. Plucked it out with a grabber:
    [​IMG]

    Checked resistance ranges between old and new and they are very similar:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Note the new sender has more droop, hence the higher reading at empty. In practice it will rest o the bottom of the tank before it gets there.

    New sender with new sock installed in the tank:
    [​IMG]

    Hopefully I'll have time to get it back in tonight. I'll be installing fresh hoses while I'm at it.
     
    Ol Fogie, blalp!, 47v6 and 3 others like this.
  10. May 11, 2022
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    We can take care of that. :sneak::twist:
     
    Rubicloak and Fireball like this.
  11. May 12, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    Gas tank back in with new hoses and the gauge seems to work. I finished too late to fill it at a gas station to check for leaks. Hopefully tomorrow:
    [​IMG]

    I also moved the license plate up since I've already bent it crossing ditches on the property. Now it's flush with the bottom of the bumper.

    I'll have to drop the tank again in the future to add some rear recovery points. At least it's not too hard to do.
     
  12. May 12, 2022
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Throw the dang ball already! :rofl:
     
    Muzikp, Ol Fogie, 47v6 and 6 others like this.
  13. May 16, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    No pictures, but I finally had time to run to the gas station and fill the tank Saturday night. ....and the nearest station was out of order. Had just enough gas to get home, but not to another station. All the other stations are in the opposite direction. Gave up for the night.

    Dumped in 5 gallons at home and drove to town Sunday morning. Filled up the tank and have two observations:
    • The leak is gone!
    • The fuel gauge used to register at 3/4 tank when full and now it registers at 7/8 when full. Since the resistance was almost the same between the old and new senders, I'm guessing re-connecting the wires cleaned up the connections. At this point either the gauge itself reads a little low or I still have extra resistance in another connection along the way to the front. Showing 7/8 when full is close enough I'd have to be pretty bored to spend more time on it.
     
  14. May 16, 2022
    tomasinator

    tomasinator Member

    Redmond, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Messages:
    415
    Did you test for leakage on a steep hill? :rofl:Remember when my jeep flamed out going up a steep hill? While we were waiting for things to cool off, gas steadily dripped out from the gas tank shield in the rear. It turned out the o-ring around the fuel sender was pinched and left a gap. Steeper-than-it-looks rules apply.
    [​IMG]
     
  15. May 16, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    That's a good point. I'll check that in the next few days.

    Previously it would leave a big 2ft gas stain in the parking lot after filling, so I know I'm better than I was.
     
    tomasinator likes this.
  16. May 17, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    Stripping/sanding all the paint off the air cleaner lid:
    [​IMG]

    And trying again. No second coats this time. One and done:
    [​IMG]
     
    cj2atruck, txtoller, duffer and 3 others like this.
  17. May 17, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    Much better. Just a few rust pits showing that don't really bother me:
    [​IMG]

    And installed with the requisite "350 Dauntless" sticker:
    [​IMG]

    I still need to swap the valve covers side-to-side so I can ditch the chrome breather and hook up the original style PCV inlet tube from the air cleaner.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2022
  18. May 17, 2022
    3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    virginia
    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2015
    Messages:
    1,290
    Looks really good
     
    Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
  19. May 18, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    Took the Jeep for a 20 minute loop around the property with plenty of steep up/down hills and lots of side hill. No gas leaks from the tank. I seem to have something rubbing the drivetrain when all torqued up in crawl gear going uphill. I think it's the bottom of one of the floorboard bolts. I need to shorten the bolt a bit.

    I also have an annoying squeak in the rear passenger compartment I always forget to investigate when I pull it back in the shop.

    If you want to be bored, here's a video of the drive. Ignore the phone mount base on the right. It was the only way I could get it to point out the windshield. Need to get a better mount. Watch the horizon to get an idea of the side hills. It's all a lot steeper than it looks:


    Youtube's image stabilization is weird. The phone was rigidly attached to the Jeep so the hood should be fixed in the view. Post Youtube image processing, the hood moves around over the bumps.

    Finally, the turn signals STILL weren't cancelling right. They would cancel only after turning the wheel more than required for a normal turn. I had the column apart again two nights ago to clock the cancel cam in the properly. The PO who put the Grant wheel on, had the adapter mis-rotated. Now they are really working as they should be.

    Little detail stuff like that takes forever to iron out.
     
  20. May 18, 2022
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    I've noticed this too. I have my camera mounted rigid on the front hoop of the roll bar. There's a lot of flex with the hood and fenders.
    If you want to waste more time.
     
    47v6, Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
New Posts